Firms

Beachcroft

 

Survey results

Survey results

 

The lowdown (in their own words...)

Why did you choose this firm over any others? 

 ''Quality of insurance work'; 'great work for great clients'; 'friendliness, size, number of departments'; 'breadth of type of work available'; 'non-pretentious attitude'; 'felt confident in the firm's strategy and management'; 'strong litigation background in interesting areas'; 'work/life balance appeared good'' 

How does your training compare with peers' at other firms? 

 ''Realistic level of responsibility which increases throughout your training contract'; 'supervision has been very hands on'; ' everyone has time to explain'; 'training is of a comparable or better quality'; 'I am not crazily busy or stressed'' 

Best thing about the firm? 

 ''Everyone is friendly and trainees get treated extremely well'; 'encouraged to take a hands-on approach and inclusive when it comes to work'; 'the charity and pro bono work that Beachcroft is dedicated to'; 'genuine investment in trainees and a desire to keep us on at the end of our training contracts'; 'every day brings new tasks and challenges for trainees here'' 

Worst thing about the firm? 

 ''Limited social side'; 'high level of insurance, fixed-fee work'; 'the printing facilities'; 'not many perks'; 'split across two offices'; 'lack of communication'; 'treating trainees with kid-gloves'' 

Best moment? 

 ''Winning an employment tribunal that I had been involved in'; 'attending the Old Bailey and getting a good result'; 'taking witness statements at client's office'; 'participating in the firm's annual charity walk in the Peak District - a very fun day and night out'; 'securing a saving for the client of over £125,000 on a file that I had run from the start'' 

Worst moment?

 ''More bundle work than I enjoy'; 'boring research on legislative changes'; 'medical notes and more medical notes. Doctors' handwriting - enough said'; 'feeling out of my depth'; 'forgetting to send instructions to an expert and then having to urgently get papers to him by 9.00am the next day!''

The Lex 100 verdict

 The Verdict

The firm

With eight UK offices in addition to London, Beachcroft remains among the country's principal PI defendant practices. Other sectors covered include property, construction and healthcare. The practice has continued to expand nationally, with the acquisition of a team from Eversheds LLP in Newcastle, and further expansion in 2010 in Manchester with a two-partner, four-associate team from Halliwells. On the transactional side, the firm's work spans small and mid-cap flotations and M&A. 

The star performers

Administrative and public law; Clinical negligence: defendant; Commercial property; Construction; Education; Employment; Healthcare; Insurance and reinsurance litigation; Personal injury: defendant; Private finance initiative (PFI); Professional negligence.

The deals

Advising on the winding up of the SEDA plc pension scheme; advised on a package of local authority PFI projectsto be salvaged from the Jarvis plc administration; involved in the defence of Swift Horsman against a criminal prosecution relating to a fatality; advised Johnson Service Group in its acquisition of eight PFI contracts from administrators to Jarvis.

The clients

Allianz; Aviva; Balfour Beatty; Countrywide; DB Schenker Rail; Liverpool City Council; Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Royal Mail; The General Practice Group; Zurich Insurance.

The Verdict

With first-class insurance and healthcare practices, Beachcroft has experienced continued growth, and trainees like that it is 'big enough to be influential, while not so large as to feel like a machine'. The latest development here is the merger in November 2011 with Davies Arnold Cooper, creating a top-20 UK firm with over 2,000 employees. Impressing from the start at its open evening ('they were interested in me'), the environment is also 'friendly and relaxed'. The firm nurtures its trainees, from the inclusive nature of the work ('we are encouraged to take a hands-on approach') to its efforts to retain trainees at the end of their contracts. People are approachable and keen to let you develop your skills. One thing trainees feel the firm doesn't invest so much in is the social side, a common gripe here. However, trainees are encouraged to get involved in pro bono work and charity events which goes down well - participating in the firm's annual charity walk in the Peak District was 'a very fun day and night out'.The 'fantastic' training at the firm compares well to others with 'more training events organised' and you should be prepared to take on a significant amount of responsibility, which 'increases throughout your training contract'. However, this strategy pays off leaving trainees feeling 'well prepared to qualify'. There are some moans about the pay, which trainees feel could be better and a high level of contentious work means you could find yourself filling a lot of lever arch files. But a consistent flow of 'mediations, negotiations and settlements' plus a healthy dose of client contact makes up for this. If you want an unpretentious yet ambitious firm that makes you feel like a 'valued and well-utilised part of the team' and with a sensible approach to training, try Beachcroft.